CWC AFRICA

Building the Conservation Economy

Africa’s vast remaining wilderness areas are under serious threat from human encroachment, mining, industrial agriculture, degradation and climate change. Conversely, their neighbouring communities are often faced with poverty and unemployment.

WHY A CONSERVATION ECONOMY?

The Department of Environmental Affairs defines a wildlife economy as one which is centred on, “the socio-economic benefits of eco-tourism, co-managed conservation areas and ancillary services to protected areas.”

We believe a Conservation Economy is broader than that. We also believe that an area can be protected through communal management mechanisms and restorative use, and not simply in terms of legislation.

A Conservation Economy is built on wildlife and biodiversity assets and incorporates the resources both inside and outside the protected area. A Conservation Economy focusses equally on the people surrounding these areas, building a restorative economy based on ecological, social and economic principles. If our wild places and the neighbouring land and water, are managed responsibly they offer a variety of employment opportunities (including zoology, conservation, eco-tourism, hunting, agriculture and all secondary activities) thereby contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth, reducing pressure on resources within protected areas.

WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?

CWC Africa seeks to convert Africa’s community land surrounding protected areas into Communal Wild Conservancies (CWC’s), which will represent an extension of the existing protected reserve ecosystems. CWC Africa seeks to protect these areas from encroaching development, whilst creating restorative, sustainable conservation-based revenue streams for the local communities and other stakeholders.

CWC Africa has already identified 6 million hectares of landscapes, with a focus on communal reserves adjoining protected areas and reserves in Sub Saharan Africa.

I want to help

Please help us to conserve these areas, and the precious remaining flora and fauna within, whilst developing sustainable revenue streams for the local communities. Rather than a top-down approach, our development model is about working with communities; so that they co-develop and genuinely benefit whilst maintaining a guardianship role for these protected areas. 

African Conservation Trust is a fully registered non-profit, public benefit organisation which is audited annually. Please contact us should you require a S18(a) donation certificate (SA donors only). To donate via EFT to the dedicated CWC Africa bank account, please use the following details:

Account Name: African Conservation Trust

Bank: First National Bank (FNB)

Branch: Hayfields

Branch Code: 221425

Account No: 62458740430

SWIFT code: FIRNZAJJ (international donations only)

Deposit Reference: Please include your full name to help us accurately record your donation

Feel free to contact us for more information.

African Conservation Trust and partners have decades of experience in implementing socio-economic development initiatives and is B-BBEE Level One accredited. Speak to us about partnering in poverty alleviation and community sustainability initiatives.

Download the CWC Africa Profile.

If you are a non-profit or conservation entity and would like to  collaborate, please drop us an email.

MORE INFO

We are currently establishing a CWC Africa Facebook page, where you can keep to date on all our latest projects.

Jennifer Munro | Fernro Publishing Ltd have generously sponsored a Loziba Wildlife Reserve website. Loziba is a key CWC Africa project – if successful, it will see the creation of a reserve of up to 30,000HA, including safe habitat for elephant and rhino.